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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(5); doi: 10.3390/ani11051416

Equine Management in UK Livery Yards during the COVID-19 Pandemic-“As Long As the Horses Are Happy, We Can Work Out the Rest Later”.

Abstract: Approximately 60% of the UK's leisure horses are kept at livery yards under the management and oversight of a livery yard owner or manager (LYO/M), yet their role has received little research attention. This study used the COVID-19 pandemic as a lens through which to view LYO/Ms' decisions around equine care and management at a time when changes to usual practice were necessary. Qualitative research methods were used. Up to 3 interviews were conducted with 24 different LYO/Ms over nine months (n = 48). Discussion threads from open-access UK discussion fora were also analysed. All data were anonymised and analysed using a Grounded Theory methodology. Prior to the pandemic, equine care and management practices varied greatly across yards, and yard cultures were a product of LYO/Ms' construction of good equine care, their business model, and the need to balance human and equine contentment. The role of the LYO/M was to maintain an equilibrium between those interlinked factors. During the pandemic, LYO/Ms adopted new measures designed to influence the movement of horse owners and other people on yards to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission. During this time, LYO/Ms reported prioritising equine wellbeing by limiting change to equine routines and management wherever possible. Instead of altering equine management, there was an expectation that the lives of humans would be moulded and re-shaped to fit with the government COVID-19 guidelines. These results highlight the importance of routines, traditions and cultures in each individual yard. Maintaining the standard of care for the horse was prioritised regardless of who provided that care.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-14 PubMed ID: 34069277PubMed Central: PMC8156832DOI: 10.3390/ani11051416Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study primarily focuses on understanding the role of Livery Yard Owners/Managers (LYO/Ms) in the UK, who are responsible for the care and management of approximately 60% of leisure horses. The study investigates how these individuals adapted their equine management practices in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing continued high standards of equine care, whilst following government guidelines to minimize the risk of virus transmission.

Research Methodology

  • The study opted for a qualitative approach to gain in-depth insights into LYO/Ms decision-making amidst the pandemic.
  • Interviews were conducted with 24 different LYO/Ms, with up to three interviews conducted per individual over a nine-month period.
  • Discussion threads from publicly accessible UK discussion forums were also analyzed to gather additional data.
  • All acquired data were anonymized and scrutinized using Grounded Theory methodology, which involves the systematic gathering and analysis of qualitative data to generate theories.

Pre-Pandemic Livery Yard Practices

  • Before the pandemic, the study found that equine care and management practices differed significantly between livery yards.
  • Livery yard cultures emerged from LYO/Ms’ understanding of good equine care, their business model, and the need to maintain a balance between human satisfaction and horse wellbeing.
  • The LYO/M’s role was to sustain this equilibrium between the interlinked factors.

Impact of the Pandemic on Equine Management Practices

  • During the pandemic, LYO/Ms implemented new measures to control the movement of horse owners and others to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
  • Despite these measures, maintaining equine wellbeing by limiting changes to horse routines and management was prioritized.
  • Rather than modifying equine management, LYO/Ms sought to adapt human lives to align with government COVID-19 regulations.

Conclusions from the Study

  • The results underline the importance of routines, traditions, and cultures in each livery yard.
  • Regardless of pandemic pressures, maintaining a high standard of care for horses was given priority.
  • The study brings to light the understudied role of LYO/Ms, who play a vital role in equine wellbeing and how resilient these practices can be in the face of external pressures.

Cite This Article

APA
Furtado T, Perkins E, McGowan C, Pinchbeck G. (2021). Equine Management in UK Livery Yards during the COVID-19 Pandemic-“As Long As the Horses Are Happy, We Can Work Out the Rest Later”. Animals (Basel), 11(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051416

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Furtado, Tamzin
  • Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
Perkins, Elizabeth
  • Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK.
McGowan, Catherine
  • Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
Pinchbeck, Gina
  • Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.

Grant Funding

  • G1019 / Horse Trust

Conflict of Interest Statement

There are no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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